ThesemenhadruntheblockadewhichhadnowdrawnitsstranglinglinealongthewholecoastoftheConfederacy；theyhadboardedtheTrentatHavana，andunderthelawofnationsweresafefromcapture。ButCaptainWilkesoftheUnitedStatesNavy，morezealousthandiscreet，overhauledtheTrentandtookoffthetwoConfederates。EverythoughtlessNorthernerwentwildwithjoy。Atlastthegovernmenthaddonesomething。EventheSecretaryoftheNavysofarforgothimselfastotelegraphtoWilkes“Congratulateyouonthegreatpublicserviceyouhaverenderedinthecaptureoftherebelemissaries。“[14]Chandlerpromptlyapplaudedtheseizureandwhenitwassuggestedthatperhapstheenvoysshouldbereleasedheatoncearrayedhimselfinopposition。[15]WiththetruculentJacobinsreadytoclosebattleshouldthegovernmentdoitsduty，withthecountrystillechoingtocheersforFremontandhissesforthePresident，withnothingtohiscreditinthewayofmilitarysuccess，Lincolnfacedacrisis。
　　Hewascarriedthroughthecrisisbytwostrongmen。Sumner，headandfrontofAbolitionismbutalsoagreatlawyer，cameatoncetohisassistance。AndwhatcouldathinkingAbolitionistsayafterthat!Sewardskilfullysavedthefaceofthegovernmentbyhismanagementofthenegotiation。TheenvoyswerereleasedandsenttoEngland。
　　Itwastheonlythingtodo，butChandlerandallhissorthadopposedit。TheAbolitionfuryagainstthegovernmentwasatfeverheat。WendellPhillipsinaspeechatNewYorkdenouncedtheAdministrationashavingnodefinitepurposeinthewar，andwasinterruptedbyfranticcheersforFremont。McClellan，patientlydrillinghisarmy，was，intheeyesoftheJacobins，doingnothing。Congresshadassembled。Therewaseverysignthattroubledwaterslayjustahead。
　　ThetemperanimatingHay’s“Jacobins“formedanewandreallyformidabledangerwhichmenacedLincolnatthecloseof1861。
　　Buthadhebeenanythingofanopportunist，itwouldhaveofferedhimanunrivaledopportunity。Foraleaderwhosoughtpersonalpower，thisragingsavagery，withitstripleallianceofanorganizedpoliticalmachine，adevotedfanaticism，andthewarfury，wasachanceintenthousand。Itledtohisdoorthesteedofmilitarism，shodandbridled，champinguponthebit，andinvitedhimtoleapintothesaddle。TenwordsofacquiescenceintheprogramoftheJacobins，andthedreadedroleofthemanonhorsebackwashistocommand。
　　Thefallacythatpoliticsareprimarilyintellectualdecisionsuponstatedissues，thegoingforthofthepopularmindtodecidebetweenprogramspresentedtoitbycircumstances，receivesabrilliantrefutationinthecourseofthepowerfulminoritythatwasconcentratingaroundthethreegreat“Jacobins。“Thesubjectivesideofpolitics，alsothetemperamentalside，herefoundexpression。Statecraftisanart；creativestatesmenarelikeotherartists。Justasthepainterorthepoet，seizinguponoldsubjects，usesthemasoutletsforhisparticulartemper，hisparticularemotion，andasthetemper，theemotionarewhatcountsinhiswork，sowithstatesmen，withLincolnontheonehand，withChandlerattheoppositeextreme。
　　TheJacobinsstoodfirstofallforthesuddenreactionofboldfiercenaturesfromalongpoliticalrepression。Theyhadfoughttheirwaytoleadershipascaptainsofanopposition。
　　Theywereartistswhohadbeendeniedanopportunityofexpression。Byasuddenturnoffortune，ithadseemedtocomewithintheirgrasp。Temperamentallytheywerefighters。
　　Battleforthemwasanendinitself。ThethoughtofConquestsangtothemlikethemorningstars。Hadtheybeenliterarymen，theirfavoritepoetrywouldhavebeenthesackingofTroytown。Furthermore，theywereintenselyprovincial。Undoubtedaswastheircourage，theyhadalsothevalorofignorance。
　　Theyhadtheprovincial’sdisdainfortheothersideofthehorizon，hisunboundedconfidenceinhisabilitytowhipallcreation。Chandler，scornfullybrushingasideapossibleforeignwar，typifiedtheirmood。
　　Andinquietvetoofalltheirhopesroseagainstthemtheapparentlyeasy-going，thesmiling，story-telling，unrevengeful，newmanattheWhiteHouse。Itisnottobewonderedthattheyspentthesummerlaboringtobuildupapartyagainsthim，thattheyturnedeagerlytothenewsessionofCongress，hopingtoconsolidateafactionopposedtoLincoln。
　　Hissecondmessage[1]，thoughwithoutawordofobviousdefiance，sethimsquarelyagainstthemonalltheirvitalcontentions。Thewinterof1861-1862isthestrangestperiodofLincoln’scareer。Althoughthetwophasesofhim，theouterandtheinner，were，inpointoffact，movingrapidlytowardtheirpointoffusion，apparentlytheywerefurtherawaythaneverbefore。Outwardly，hismostconspicuousvacillationswereinthiswinterandinthefollowingspring。Neverbeforeorafterdidheallowhimselftobeovershadowedsodarklybyhisadvisersinalltheconcernsofaction。Inamazingcontrast，inalltheconcernsofthought，hewasnevermoreentirelyhimself。Thesecondmessage，preparedwhenthecountryrangwithwhatseemedtobeageneralfrenzyagainsthim，didnotgivegroundoneinch。ThiswasallthemorenotablebecausehisSecretaryofWarhadtriedtoforcehishand。CameronhadthereputationofbeingaboutthemostastutepoliticianinAmerica。Fewpeopleattributedtohimtheembarrassmentofprinciples。AndCameron，inthelateautumn，aftercloselyobservingthedriftofthings，determinedthatFremonthadhititoffcorrectly，thatthecraftythingtodowastocomeoutforAbolitionasawarpolicy。Inaword，hedecidedtogoovertotheJacobins。HeputintohisannualreportarecommendationofChandler’splanfororganizinganarmyoffreedslavesandsendingitagainsttheConfederacy。AdvancedcopiesofthisreporthadbeensenttothepressbeforeLincolnknewofit。Heperemptorilyorderedtheirrecall，andtheexclusionofthissuggestionfromthetextofthereport。[2]
　　OntheheelsofthisrefusaltoconcedetoChandleroneofhischerishedschemes，thesecondmessagewassenttoCongress。
　　ThewatchfulandexasperatedJacobinsfoundabundantoffenseinitsomissions。Onthewholegreatsubjectofpossibleemancipationitwasblanklysilent。ThenearestitcametothissubjectwasonesuggestionwhichappliedonlytothosecapturedslaveswhohadbeenforfeitedbythedisloyalownersthroughbeingemployedtoassisttheConfederategovernmentLincolnadvisedthatafterreceivingtheirfreedomtheybesentoutofthecountryandcolonized“atsomeplace，orplaces，inaclimatecongenialtothem。“Beyondthistherewasnothingbearingontheslaveryquestionexcepttheadmonition——sounsatisfactorytoChandlerandallhissort——thatwhile“theUnionmustbepreserved，andhenceallindispensablemeansmustbeemployed，“Congressshould“notbeinhastetodeterminethatradicalandextrememeasures，whichmayreachtheloyalaswellasthedisloyal，areindispensable。“
　　LincolnwasentirelyclearinhisownmindthattherewasbutonewaytoheadoffthepassionofdestructionthatwasriotingintheJacobintemper。“Inconsideringthepolicytobeadoptedinsuppressingtheinsurrection，Ihavebeenanxiousandcarefulthattheinevitableconflictforthispurposeshallnotdegenerateintoaviolentandremorselessrevolutionarystruggle。Ihave，therefore，ineverycase，thoughtitpropertokeeptheintegrityoftheUnionprominentastheprimaryobjectofthecontestonourpart，leavingallquestionswhicharenotofvitalmilitaryimportancetothemoredeliberateactionoftheLegislature。“Hepersistedinregardingthewarasaninsurrectionofthe“disloyalportionoftheAmericanpeople，“notasanexternalstrugglebetweentheNorthandtheSouth。
　　Finally，theculminationofthemessagewasalongelaborateargumentuponthesignificanceofthewartotheworkingclasses。HisaimwastoshowthatthewholetrendoftheConfederatemovementwastowardaconclusionwhichwould“placecapitalonanequalfootingwith，ifnotabove，labor，inthestructureofgovernment。“Thus，assooftenbefore，heinsistedonhisownviewofthesignificanceinAmericanpoliticsofallissuesinvolvingslavery——theirbearingontheconditionofthefreelaborer。Inaverystrikingpassage，oftenoverlooked，herankedhimselfoncemore，asfirstofall，astatesmanof“thepeople，“inthelimitedclasssenseoftheterm。“Laborispriortoandindependentofcapital。Capitalisonlythefruitoflaborandcouldneverhaveexistediflaborhadnotfirstexisted。Laboristhesuperiorofcapital，anddeservesmuchthehigherconsideration。“Butsofarishefromanyrevolutionarypurpose，thatheaddsimmediately，“Capitalhasitsrightswhichareasworthyofprotectionasanyotherrights。“Hiscrowningvisionisnotcommunism。Hisidealworldisoneofuniversalopportunity，withlaborfreedofeveryhindrance，withallitsdeservingmembersacquiringmoreandmoreofthebenefitsofproperty。
　　SuchamessagehadnoconsolationforChandler，Wade，or，ashethenwas，forTrumbull。Theylookedaboutforawaytoretaliate。Andnowtwothingsbecameplain。That“agitationofthesummer“towhichHayrefers，hadbornefruit，butnotenoughfruit。ManymembersofCongresswhohadbeensweptalongbythePresident’spolicyinJulyhadbeenwonoverinthereactionagainsthimandwereripeformanipulation；butitwasnotyetcertainthattheyheldthebalanceofpowerinCongress。TolockhornswiththeAdministration，inDecember，wouldhavebeensorashamovethatevensuchboldmenasChandlerandWadeavoidedit。Instead，theydevisedanastuteplanofcampaign。TrumbullwasChairmanoftheSenateJudiciaryCommittee，andinthatimportantpositionwouldbidehistimetobringpressuretobearonthePresidentthroughhisinfluenceuponlegislation。WadeandChandlerwouldgoinforpropaganda。Buttheywoulddosoindisguise。WhatmorenaturalthanthatCongressshouldtakeanactiveinterestinthearmy，shouldwishtodoallinitspowerto“assist“thePresidentinrenderingthearmy-efficient。ForthatpurposeitwasproposedtoestablishajointcommitteeofthetwoHouseshavingnofunctionbuttolookintomilitaryneedsandreporttoCongress。Theproposalwasatonceacceptedanditscraftybackerssecuredacommitteedominatedentirelybythemselves。Chandlerwasamember；WadebecameChairman。[3]ThisCommitteeontheConductoftheWarbecameatonceaninquisition。Thougharmedwithnoweaponbutpublicity，itscloseconnectionwithcongressionalintrigue，itshostilitytothePresident，thedramaticeffectofanyrevelationsitchosetomakeoranychargesitchosetobring，clotheditindirectlywithimmensepower。Itsinnerpurposemaybestatedinthewordsofoneofitsmembers，“Amorevigorousprosecutionofthewarandlesstendernesstowardslavery。“[4]Itsmodeofprocedurewasinconstantinterrogationofgenerals，infrequentadvicetothePresident，andonoccasioninthreateningtorouseCongressagainsthim。[5]AsessionoftheCommitteewaslikelytobefollowedbyacallonthePresidentofeitherChandlerorWade。
　　TheCommitteebeganimmediatelysummoninggeneralsbeforeittoexplainwhatthearmywasdoing。AndeverygeneralwasmadetounderstandthatwhattheCommitteewanted，whatCongresswanted，whatthecountrywanted，wasanadvance——“somethingdoing“assoonaspossible。
　　Andnowappearedanothercharacteristicofthemoodofthesefuriousmen。Theyhadbecomesuspicious，honestlysuspicious。
　　Thissuspiciousnessgrewwiththeirpowerandwasrenderedfranticbybeingcrossed。Whoeverdisagreedwiththemwasinstantlyanobjectofdistrust；anyplanthatcontradictedtheirviewswasatonceanevidenceoftreason。
　　TheearliestdisplayofthiseagernesstoseetraitorsineverybushconcernedaskirmishthattookplaceatBall’sBluffinVirginia。ItwasbadlymanagedandtheFederalloss，proportionately，waslarge。TheofficerheldresponsiblewasGeneralStone。Unfortunatelyforhim，hewasparticularlyobnoxioustotheAbolitionists；hehadreturnedfugitiveslaves；andwhenobjectionwasmadebysuchpowerfulAbolitionistsasGovernorAndrewofMassachusetts，Stonegavereigntoasharptongue。Intheearlydaysofthesession，RoscoeConklingtoldthestoryofBall’sBluffforthebenefitofCongressinabrilliant，harrowingspeech。InaflashtherumorspreadthatthedeadatBall’sBluffwerekilledbydesign，thatStonewasatraitor，that——perhaps!——whocouldsay？——therewerebiggertraitorshigherup。StonewassummonedbeforetheInquisition。[6]
　　WhileStonewasontherack，metaphorically，whiletheCommitteewasshowinghimeverybrutalityinitspower，refusingtoacquainthimwiththeevidenceagainsthim，intimatingthattheywereabletoconvicthimoftreason，betweenthefifthandtheeleventhofJanuaryacrisisaroseintheWarOffice。Cameronhadfailedtoingratiatehimselfwiththerisingpowers。OldpoliticalenemiesinCongresswereimplacable。ScandalsinhisDepartmentgaverisetosweepingchargesofpeculation。
　　ThereisscarcelyanothermomentwhenLincoln’spowerwassoprecarious。Inonerespect，intheirimpatience，theCommitteereflectedfaithfullythecountryatlarge。AndbytheironyoffateMcClellanatthiscrucialhour，hadfallenill。Afterwaitingforhisrecoveryduringseveralweeks，Lincolnventuredwithmuchhesitationtocallaconferenceofgenerals。[7]TheyweresittingduringtheStoneinvestigation，producingnoresultexceptadistractionincouncils，devisingplansthatwerethrownoverthemomenttheCommandingGeneralarosefromhisbed。AvoteinCongressafewdaysprevioushadamountedtoacensureoftheAdministration。ItwastakenupontheCrittendenResolutionwhichhadbeenintroducedasecondtime。